Phil Barry brings his haunted collection of moody folk songs to his debut Between The Carolinas. The gentle strum of a 1977 Guild acoustic guitar is the primary instrument here. Opening with “Crying Shame” it brings to mind the somber ballads John Lennon was known for. Following this, the catchy jangle and echoing beats of “The Spaces” is a memorable single that will appeal to fans of David Mead, Adam Merrin, and Elliot Smith for sure. The title track “Between the Carolinas” is perfect music for those long car trips on I-95, with a steady rythym and multi-layered guitar and vocal tracks. Another gem here is “Never Gonna Be Your Man” with it’s smart verses and smart slide guitar riffs, similar to Wilco here. The track “Dark Star” lumbers along, like a weight on Barry’s shoulders. The darkness of love lost permeates the music deeply and is definitely worth a listen on your ipod after a long night of heartache.
